Pressure accumulator



Deel 11, 1956 J. MERCIER PRESSURE AccUMuLAToR Filed Dec. 23. 1952 v INVENTOR Zea/2f /Ifefczen A ORNYS Y B m features of the invention,

t. Fig. l :is .a longitudinal sectional -vieW pfone embodi- "Figs. 2,' 3-and 4 are viewsV similar 'to v embodiments'fof the invention.

Referring no-w to the' drawings, the accumulator shown in Fig. 1 desirably comprises a pair of substantially cupshaped shells 11 and 12' of a-ny suitable rigid material gUnited States Patent OA PRESSURE ACCUMULATOR `lean Mercier, New York, N. Y.

Application December 23, 1952, Serial No. 327,602

3 Claims. (Cl. 13S- 30) This invention relates to pressure accumulatore, more particularly of the type having two yshells with a deform-l able partition therebetween.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide a pressure accumulator `of the above type `that may readily be Ifabricated at relatively low cost and in which thedeformable partitionwill be securely clamped at its 'periphery between the rims of the shells without excessivel compression of said periphery with resultant weakening thereof, yet will be retained therebetween without likelihood of inward displacement of such periphery dfue lto the pressure against the partition vwhich might cause leakv alge Ibet'ween the -gas and lliquid chambers of the accumu- "ber of time-s the partition is expand-ed .and [contracted due lto charging and discharging of the accumulator with l continuous use.

rAnother object is to provide a valve-for the liquid port of the accumulatorl which, 4upon initial engagement by the'expanding partition will only partially elose the liquid port to prevent extrusion of the partition and only when ysubstantially all of the liquid has been expelled from rthe accumulator by the expanding partition `will completely close the liquid port of said accumulator.

; According lto the invention, t-hese objects are accomplished by thev arrangement an-d combination of elements hereinafter described and particularly recitedin the claii'ns..

- In .theaccomp'anying drawings i-n which are shown one for; more of various possible embodiments ment of the invent-ion, and

capable of withstanding rela-tively high pressures.

Each lof the shells 11`and 12 desire-bly has an annular of the several rim 15 and 16 respectively extending laterally outward jfromthe mouths thereof.' Each of the annu-lar rims 15 Yand 16 `has an annular depress-ion 17 therein-between -which, when the rims -15 `and 16 are in juxtaposition, may ,be positioned the thickened peripheral rim 18 of a ilexible .and deformable'parti-tion 19 of resilient material.

thereto or molded therein as illustratively shown.

2,773,511 Patented Dec. 11, 1956 ICS portion 25 thereof extending laterally outward Ifrom the annular depression 17 therein. Bach of the extending portions 25, which lie in parallel planes as shown, desire-bly has a plurality of openings 26 therethrough which are spaced therearound. These openings 26 in rims 1'5 and 16 when aligned, receive bolts '27 on which nuts 28 may be screwed to draw the rims 1'5 and 16 together to clamp the .thickened periphery of the partition 19 therebetween to provide an etlectivengas and liquid tight seal.

The resilient partition 19 desirably is a bladder of natural or synthetic rubber Iwhich lis substantially cylindrical in cross Vsection along the major portion of its length and has a rounded bottom wa1l29 of greater thickness than said cylindrical Wall portion thereof.

The shell 12 in which the non-inated bladder 19 normally extends, desirably flares outwardly from the -riml thereof to its rounded bottom 31 through which the port 24 extends. Thus, the distance from the outer surface of bladder 19 `to the inner surface of shell 12 progressively increases from the clamped periphery =18 of the bladder to its free end 29.

As a result of the shape of the shell -12 and .partition 19 above described, as the bladder 19 expands in use of the accumulator to force the liquid in chamber 23 out of port 24, it will progressively engage the shell Wall. As a result, -no liquid pockets will be yformed and su-bstantially all the liquid inthe chamber 23 will be expel-led therefrom.

As such progressive engagement of the shell by the bladder is set forth i-n detail in Patent No. Re. #23,437, dated December 4, 1951, and per se tforms no part of this invention, it will not be #further described.

As the portion of the bladder at and near its clamped rim is under stress due to the deformation of' the rubber by the ,clamping action, means are desirably provided to support the bladder 19 to eliminate extreme bendin-g stress at and adjacent such rim which might cause cracking or rupture of the bladder with resultant inoperativeness of the accumulator. j

To this end, .an annular supporting member '33 is ldesire-bly aixed to the thickened rim 18 and the adjacent wall portion of the bladder 19 preferably'by being bonded The supporting member y33 iso-f resilient sheet material ysuch ias metal or suitable plastic and issubstantially L-shaped in cross section. One leg 34 of the .supporting member '33 may if desired extend laterally outward beyond the rounded as at 37 to eliminate ashanp edge. e

A The rim-35 desirably" has a plurality of openings 38 therethrough which may `be aligned with the 'openings in rims 1'5 and 16 so that the bolts 27- will also' extend therethrough.r

Thus, the nuts 28 need be tightened only suiiciently to ensure that the rims 15, 16 will press against thickened periphery 18 with suicient clamping force to provide an effective seal, yet Without4 cutting of such rim, as the bolts 27 through the openings 3S in rim 35- will prevent inward'movement of the thickened rim .of the bladder regardless of the pressure thereagainst in the container.

By reason of supporting member 33, regardless of the vnumber of times the bladder is expanded and contracted, there will be no sharp bend therein at the stressed portion of the bladder adjacent rim 18, and consequently there is no likelihood of cracking or rupture of such bladder.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the port 24desirably has a plug 41 therein which has an annular ange 42 positionedy onthe inner periphery of port 24. A1-

3 though the plug 41 may be securely afxed in the port 24, in any suitable manner, it desirably is welded therein as at 43.

The plug 41 desirably has an axial bore44 witht atwall 45 at the inner end thereof, the' latter' desirablyhaying a plurality of openings or passageways.4 46 therethrough arranged in a ring. Aixed to the inner surface ofi;wall 45 as by a bolt 47 is a valve member 48desirably a disk of stiff exible material which is slightly cup-shaped-,so that the periphery 49 thereof is normallyspaced from the openings 46.

Thus, when a valve (not shown) controllinggthe port 24 is opened, the expanding bladder 19 willf force; the liquid in the previously chargedfliquidchamber; 23:.out through openings 46 and bore 441 of plug;41.

When the bladder has expanded. sufficiently, so that. a portion of the thickened bottomy 29,` thereof engages the periphery 49 of plate 43, such engaged portiono'ff the periphery willtbe moved downwardly toA sealwthe.openings therebelow. Consequently, extrusion` of the. :bladder through openings 46 will be prevented. Upon` .further expansion of the bladder the thickenedbottom thereof .will engage the remaining portion' ofqthep'eriphery of Vof the bladder withlresultant injury thereto.`

The embodiment shown in Fig. 2 desirablycomprises a` pair of substantially cup-shaped shells 121,; 122 of rigid material, the mouth of shell 121; having a rim `1123 with an internal annular groove 124 andV the mouth of shell 122 having an annular outwardly extending lateral `rixrr125, the outer diameter of which is less than that of the mouth of shell 121.

A flexible and deformable partition 19' of resilient material preferably a bladder of natural or synthetic rubber is normally positioned in shell 122. The bladder 19' is substantially conical in longitudinal cross section and has a rounded bottom wall 29 of greater thickness than its side wall.

The shell 122 in which the non-inflated bladder 19 normally extends, is substantially cylindrical along the greater. portion of its length and is of enlarged diameter near-its mouth as at 130. Thus the distance from the outer surface of bladder 19' to the inner surface of shell 122 progressively increases from the rim 126 of the bladder to its free end 29' to prevent the formation of liquid pockets as previously described.

The bladder19 is desirably supported at its rim 126 in. such manner that regardless of the number of times it isr expanded and contracted during charging and discharging of the accumulator, no sharp bending' stress will beimparted to such rim with the'disadva'nta'ges previously pointed'out. t

Tothis end, an annular supporting member `131 is affixed to bladder 19 at the rim 126 and adjacent' portion thereof. The supporting member 131 is also of resilient sheetmaterial such as metal or plastic and is substantially reversely bent forming an inner and outer' leg 132, 133 which desirably are molded` into the rim 126, and adiaent wall portion of the bladder respectively. Thus, as ,shown in Fig. 2 the rim 126 of the bladder will also be reversely bent so that the rim 125 of shell122 may be positioned between legs 132, 133. The inner surface l of rim 126 on leg 133 desirably has an annular groove 135 to receive rim 125 to retain the rim of bladder 19 over the mouth of shell 122.

To assemble the accumulator, the open end of the shell 122 with the bladder 19 mounted thereon aspreviously described, is moved into the mouth of shell 121 until 4the enlargedgdiameter portion 13B-of shellV 122- is 4 between the annular groove 124 and the port 22 of shell 121.

An annular washer 137 is then positioned around the enlarged diameter portion of shell 122 against the undersurface of the reversely bent rim 126. The shell 122 is then locked in shell 121 as by means of a split type snap ring 138 positioned in annular groove 124. The snap ring is desirably circular in cross section and 0f diameter substantially equal to the distance between the outer surface of the enlarged diameter portion of shell 122 and the lloor of annular groove 124 most remote from said shell 122.

Thus the snap ring will prevent lateral displacement of shell 122 in shell 12. When pressure is applied through port 22 to charge the accumulator with gas, the shells will tend to move apart compressing rim 126 between washer and rim 125 to provide a dependable seal between the opposed walls of shells 121 and 122.

As the outer diameter of rim 1'25 is` greater than the inner diameter of snap ring 138 when it is seated in annular groove 124, the outward movement of shell 122 from she1l121 willbe limited. t

The shell 122- desirably has a plug 41' positioned in the port` 24 and affixed therein as by welding as at 43. t

Plug 411l has an inner wall 51 with a neck 52 which. extends outwardly therefrom into the container and has a beveled inner edge' 53 defining a valve seat. The wall 51 has a plurality of passageways 46' desirably arranged in a ring about an axial opening 54 through which extends a pin55. The pin 55 desirably has a stop in the form of a nut 56 screwed on the outer end thereof and has a ball conformation 57 at the inner end thereof positioned in a socket 58 in a valve head 59. The ball 57 is desirably retained in socket` 58 by means of a plate 61 affixed tol the underface of the valve head 59 as by screws 62 and having an opening 63 through which pin 55 extends.

Thevalve head is desirably retained in its outermost position. spaced from its seat 53 by a coil spring 64 compressed between the undersurface of valvef head 59 `and wall 51.

In the operation of the accumulator shown in Fig, 2, regardless of whichportion of the periphery of the valve head59 is engaged by the thickenedbottom 29' of partition 19", thevalve head will pivot in the direction ofthe force applied thereagainsttuntily a` portion of the peripheryt of.' ther valve head is. against its seat 53.. As4 al result, extrusion of the partition` through openings 46' is prevented. Upon further expansion of the partition and as pressure is, applied. against the entire valvel head, the entire periphery of4 the latter will finally be` seated to closey the port 24.

By reason of the valve construction above described,

regardless of the' position ofthe partition19' in the` accumulator whenitf engages the valve head, thetpo'rtio'n of lthe valve head adjacent the openingsl 46 closest: tolthe *pa'rtitiony will-seal such openings toy prevent extrusion of the partition.

The` pressure accumulator shown in` `Fig.` 3` desirably comprises a pair of cup-shaped substantially cylindrespherical shells` 71 and` 72'desirably` having the same outer diameter, the shell 72V preferably'being` of greater length-than the shell 71. Eachof the rimst73 and 74 of the shellsr71- and72has an annular depression' 75 therein betweentwhieh the=enlarged periphery or rim 76 of a` deformable.` partitionA 77 may be positioned.

Thepartition 77l whichdesirably is of rubber,l natural orsynthetic, preferably is a circular disc of diameter considerably greater than the inner diameter of the shells 71 and 72 and has an axial opening 78' therethrough. The rims73 and 74 of the'shells are desirably clamped against the enlargedV periphery 76y of the partitionV 77 by means of a central rod 79' which extends'longitudinally' through thejuxtaposed shells' 71 and 72, through axialbpening 78 in partitionl 77 and through taxiallopenings Stat the-ends of 'the shells respectively.

.' Ihe protruding ends 83 of the rod 79 are desirably -threadedas at 85 so that they may receive a nut 86, which when screwed upon such threaded ends and tightened, will move the shells 71 and 72 together so that the rims 73 and 74 thereof will press tightly against the enlarged rim 76,l securely retaining the latter in place and providing a dependable seal between such rim portions of the` shell. A.

The periphery of opening 78 in partition 77 is securely retained against the central rod 79 as by means of a suitable clamp 87. The dimensions of the partition 77 andthe position at which the periphery of opening 78 thereof is clamped to the rod 79 are so selected that as shown in Fig. 3, the partition will hang downwardly in shell 72 to define a bladder that is substantially conical in cross section, the distance of the outer surface 88 of the partition from the inner wall of the shell progressively increasing from the enlarged rim 76 thereof to the reversely bent bottom 89 thereof.'

Means are desirably provided tocharge the chamber 91, ,of the accumulator on one side of the partition 77 lwith gas,for example, and the chamber 92 on the other `side ofthe partition 77 with a liquid such as oil. For 1 this purpose each of the ends 83 of the central rod 79 idesirablyhas a longitudinal bore 93 therein defining a gas and oil port respectively, and a transverse bore 95 leads from such longitudinal boreintothe accumulator. v'1 `hus,',a gas under pressure may be forced through bores L'93 and 95 into the accumulator chamber 91 on one side of the partition yand aliquid such as oil may be forced through the bores 93 and 95 rinto the accumulator chamy"-13er`9`2onthe other side of the partition. As vthe valve 'means controlling vthe gas inlet port and the oil port are conventional, they will not be shown.

In the operation of the accumulator shown in Fig. 3, gas under pressure is initially charged into the accumulator through the gas inlet port and such port is thereupon sealed. Oil under pressure greater than that in the gas chamber 91 is forcedthrough the oil inlet port into liquid chamber 92. As the result, the partition 77 will be deformed and the gas in the chamber 91 will be compressed.

When the oil port is opened in use of the accumu* lator, the compressed gas in chamber 91 will cause the partition 77 to move outwardly thereby forcing oil through bores 95 and 93. As the partition 77 expands, the portion of the outer wall 88 thereof closest to the inner wall of shell 72 will first contact such shell and as more and more oil is forced from the accumulator, the wall of the partition will progressively engage such shell.

As a result, no oil pocket will be formed between the partition and the wall of the container and substantially all of the iluid in the container will be forced out therefrom as is set forth in detail in re-issue Patent No. 23,437, previously identified.

The partition 77 is also desirably supported near the clamped `rim thereof in such manner that regardless of the .number of times the partition is expanded and contracted during charging and discharging of the accumulator, no sharp bending stress will be imparted to such clamped rim with the disadvantages previously pointed out. To this end, an annular supporting member 98 similar to those shown in Figs. 1 and 2 `is desirably molded into the thickened lrim 76 and 4adjacent wall portion of the partition 77. The supporting member 98 is also of resilient `sheet material such as metal or suitable plastic and is substantially L-shaped in cross section. One leg of the supporting member extends laterally into the thickened rim 76 and the other leg 101 extends down- Wardly into the wall portion of partition 77 adjacent rim 76. Desirably'the junction between legs 99 and 101 is rounded as at 102 to eliminate a sharp edge.

By reason of supporting member 98, the portion of the partition ,adjacent rim 76 will be spaced from the .rims :73 and 74 of the shells. Thus, regardless of the ,inner diameter of the rim 110 of shell 107 so that it may readilyy lit therein. The enlarged rim 108 of partition 109 which is similar to partition 77 shown in Fig. 3, desirably has a reversely bent annular retaining member 111 associated therewith, said retaining member having an inner and outer leg 112 -and 113 respectively extending substantially parallel to each other and an annular lip 114 extending laterallyoutward from the end of said outer leg 113. The annular leg 112 of said retaining member is molded into the rim of the partition in such manner th-at the inner surface of such annular leg 112 has a layerv115 of resilient material thereon which extends to the reversely bent -edge 116 of said retaining member. The layer of res-ilient material also extends over the outer surface of said leg 112 as well as over the .reversely bent edge 116 thereof and over the outer surface of annular leg 113 to the laterally projecting lip 114.

In assembling the accumulator, shown in Fig. 4, the rim` of shell 106 is positioned against the reversely bent edge 116 of retaining member 111 between the resilient material 115 of the partition and the inner surface of leg 113. The rim of the shell 107 willl seat on Ythelaterallyextending Ilip 114 with the inner surface of such shell against the resilient material on the outer surl.face of leg r113. Thus when the two shells 106 and 107 are pressed` togethenby the tightening of theV nuts (not shown) at each end of the central rod 79 (similar to that shown in Fig. 3) the rims of the shells will be against a rigid metal supporti. e., reversely bent edge 116 and lip 114 and the resilient material associated with the rims of the shells will provide a liquid and air tight seal which will prevent leakage from the accumulator. Desirably, the wa-ll of shell 106 flares outwardly as shown and the wall of partition 109 defines a substantially cylindrical bladder, which construction will also cause progressive engagement of the partition with the shell to insure complete expulsion of oil from the accumulator and avoidance of any oil pockets therein.

It is of course to be understood that the shell 72 of Fig. 3 could flare outwardly from the rim thereof and the partition 77 could be cylindrical and the shell 106 of Fig. 4 could be cylindrical and the partition 109 conical to provide progressive engagement of the partition with the associated shell.

With the constructions above described, a simple yet vhighly efficient pressure accumulator is provided which is capable of continuous use for long periods of time without breakdown of the deformable partition therein.

As many changes could be made in the above construction, and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope of the claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as` new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A pressure accumulator comprising -a pair of substantially cup-shaped shells, each having a laterally extending rim at the mouth thereof and a port through the wal-l thereof, a deformable partition of resilient ma* terial in the shape of a bladder having its periphery positioned between said rims and normally extending in one of said shells, said rims extending laterally beyond the periphery of said partition, said extending portions having a plurality of openings therethrough, a bolt ex tending through pairs of aligned openings in said rims, a

lnut screwed on the-ends of ea'clrof'saidibolts, whereby when said nuts' are tightenedY the rims will be' drawn t`o`- gether to clamp the' periphery of said 'partition therebetween, an annular supporting member of flexible material aixed to said partition, said member havin'ga portion thereof extending laterally beyond the clamped p eripheryl of said partition and" a portion extending along the' wall of said partition near the clamped portion thereof to limit the bending of the portionof said partition adjacent said periphery when the partition is expanded andcontracted duringk use ofthe accumulator, the portion of said -annular supporting member extending laterally beyond the clamped periphery of said partition having a plurality of openings therethrough, through which saidbolts extend to prevent inward displacement of saidl periphery.

2. A pressure accumulator comprising a pair of substantiallyv cup-shaped shells each having a laterally extending rim at the mouth thereof and a porty through the wall thereof, a deformable partition of resilient material in the shape of a bladder having itsperiphery positioned between said rims and normally extending in one of said shells, means to clamp the rims' against the periphery of said partition to retain the latterv therebetween, an annular supporting member of exible material substantially L-shaped in cross section forming a pair of legs with the junction between said legs being rounded, said supporting member being aixed to said partition with one of the legs extending `laterally beyond the clamped periphery of said partition `and the other -leg extending along the wall of saidv partition' near the clamped portion thereof to limit the bending of the portion of said partition adjacent said periphery' when the y 48 f partition is' expanded and contracted during" use of the aecumulatot,` said clampingv means coac'ting with the? end off said leg' extending' laterally beyond" the clampedE periphery of said? partition to prevent inward displacement of saidl periphery.

3`, The combination set forth in claim 2' in which the port in theshell in which the partition is normally positioned is through the end of said shell, saidV port having aplug' axed therein, said plug having an axial bore with a wall at the inner end thereof, said wall having a plurality of openings therethrough, a substantially cupshap'eddisk of lstiff flexible material atiixed to the inner surface of said wall, the periphery of said' plate being normally spaced from said openings, whereby upon expansion"of' said partition and? engagement of the periphery of said'plate thereby, the latter wil-llm'ovedownwardly to close the openings ini the Wall thereb'eh'eath.

References Cite'dinthefe ofthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 768,984 George Aug. 30, 1904 1,154,962 Bayles Sept. 28, 1915 2,283,439 Herman` May 19, 1942 2,300,722 Adams et al. Nov. 3, 1942 2,365,063 yDowney Dec. 12, 1944 2,401,791 Overbeke June 11, 1946 2,485,752 Laspe Oct.' 25, 1949 2,489,491 Johnson N0v.\2'9, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 438,638 Great Britain Nov. 20,19'35 461,857 Great Britain Feb. 25, 1937 

